Largest UK academics' union takes position on antisemitism

UCU is committed to challenging and raising awareness of antisemitism at work and within the union. UCU wants all its members to be treated equally at work, to participate fully in the union and to have the protection of UCU when it is needed.

UCU’s Commitment to Equality

While our prime concern is to fight for greater equality and to oppose all forms of harassment, prejudice and unfair discrimination at work, we recognise that this includes the injustices that members face in all areas of their lives, whether on grounds of sex, race, ethnic or national origin, colour, class, impairment or disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or belief, age, socio-economic status, casualisation or any other aspect of status or personal characteristic which can lead to discrimination.

Antisemitism

The international expert on antisemitism, Dr Brian Klug of Oxford University, offers the following short definition:

The result of this prejudice can be hostile actions or discrimination against Jews as a religious or ethnic group.

Antisemitic actions and behaviours cause offence and distress. Antisemitism at work takes many forms including
* jokes, banter, insults and taunts
* the dissemination of antisemitic literature
* excluding people because they are Jewish
* physical attacks
* excluding people based on perceptions or assumptions.

Antisemitism, whether it is intentional or not :
* undermines confidence and self esteem
* is offensive
* makes work an unsafe place
* means treating someone differently and unfairly
* can be viewed as a potential or actual hate-related offence
* is unlawful and contrary to the rules of UCU.

Employers have a duty to prevent harassment and provide remedies if it occurs.

UCU takes antisemitism very seriously and wants employers and our members to take it seriously too. It takes a lot of courage to challenge harassment and discrimination and members who are encouraged to approach the union for support and advice. UCU will
* take all complaints seriously and treat them sensitively and confidentially
* provide support through our branches and regional offices
* train our officials and activists to be able to provide advice and support

Antisemitism at work is covered by the Equality Act 2010. The key concepts in the Act include:
direct discrimination (for example if a college refused to employ staff from certain religious backgrounds), indirect discrimination (for example if team meetings are always held on a Friday afternoon), harassment (for example offensive and hurtful comments directed towards any individual in the workplace, on account of their religion), and victimisation (when an individual is treated detrimentally because they either bring a case to an Employment Tribunal, intend to bring a case, or support someone else in bringing a case).

Another important collective protection is the public sector equality duty. Previously born out of the need for public authorities to combat institutional racism, this duty includes a requirement to foster good relations at work including around religion and belief.

UCU is keen to make this a reality and will be working with other organisations including the employers in higher and further education and the National Union of Students to make this duty have a practical impact.

UCU will also continue to negotiate and improve policies and procedures in relation
to addressing discrimination and harassment on the grounds of age, disability, gender
reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex and sexual orientation.

UCU recognises that members often belong to more than one equality group and identifying the reason for discrimination and harassment can be complex.

Managing freedom of speech within the law: the right to freedom of expression must be balanced with sensitivity to an individual’s religion or belief.

Freedom of expression is crucial for a civilized society but must be in the context of tolerance, good relations and respect for the rights and dignity of others.

We must ensure equality and freedom from discrimination and harassment on grounds of religion, race or national origin for individuals and groups.

And we must show respect for the freedom of individuals to join together to celebrate their ethnicity and practice their religion.

The UCU will vigorously defend the rights of its members to exercise their academic freedom at work and to engage in political debate within the union, including on sensitive and difficult issues such the Middle East.

But the union will not tolerate discriminatory language or behaviour. The rules of the union require all its members to refrain from all forms of harassment, prejudice and discrimination and this includes antisemitic speech or behaviour.

The rules enable the union to discipline or expel members found to have engaged in antisemitism. The union will not hesitate to take action against members in these circumstances.

The ideal is to ensure that the actions listed in this leaflet are followed so that Jewish members are protected as full and valued members of the union. To help challenge and eradicate antisemitism UCU members should:
* avoid language that might be well meaning but could actually be patronising; respect a person’s religious, non religious or belief structure but do not treat people as ambassadors for their religion or ethnic group.

* not make assumptions about people’s beliefs and practices just because you know their nationality or background.

* make sure you think about the balance between the right to freedom of expression and sensitivity to individuals’ religion or belief
* acknowledge that many people who identify as Jewish live their lives quite differently from each other.
* be sensitive to the needs of religiously observant Jewish colleagues, for example, by avoiding calling meetings on Friday afternoons and Saturdays, where possible, and by checking that meetings do not clash with Jewish religious festivals
* support all UCU’s work around combating racism and fascism; for example encourage members to sign up to the UCU equality networks (contact eqadmin@ucu.ac.uk)
* organise events at work including around National Holocaust Memorial Day 27th January.

Holocaust Memorial Day

Every year on 27 January, the world marks Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD), which provides an opportunity for everyone to learn lessons from the Holocaust, Nazi persecution and subsequent genocides and apply them to the present day to create a safer, better future.

On HMD we share the memory of the millions who have been murdered in the Holocaust and subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur in order to challenge hatred and persecution in the UK today.

For example, the theme for 2012 is to speak up and speak out against hatred and discrimination. Words are powerful. It may seem like an exaggeration to say that name-calling leads to genocide. Dehumanising others – and that’s what happens when a derogatory term is used against someone – is a key stage of the path to genocide. So if we stamp out name-calling in the playground, in neighbourhoods and online, we can ensure this is a journey that we never start.

”Many people consider tackling the issues of equality and fairness to be the province of anti-discrimination law, of advocacy groups, or of government, to be addressed by discrete, often marginal programmes of activity directed at particular groups. But the greatest impacts on the opportunities open to individuals are made by everyday decisions in every part of society, most of which apply equally to everyone.”